In this article, How To Clean Security Cameras – Get Rid Of Dirt And Debris, you will learn how to clean surveillance cameras properly. It’s been a few months since installing your security cameras and everything seems to be working fine. But did you know there is another step that needs to be done consistently for your home security system to stay in tip-top shape? Whether you have one or multiple cameras they should be cleaned regularly.
Before you start your maintenance, make sure to read the manual and follow any special instructions from the manufacturer.
How Do Security Cameras Get Dirty
There are numerous ways your home security system can get dirty.
Security cameras are often placed in dark places where they are most effective, but the darkness of these areas can attract bugs and insects that will leave their own marks on security camera lenses.
Security camera lenses can get dirty from rain or humidity in the air. In areas that experience a lot of rainfall, if possible wiping down security cameras after rainfall is best because the dampness will leave watermarks on the security camera lens.
The security camera lens can also be dirty from dust or other pollution in the air. It’s important if at all possible, to make sure security cameras are placed somewhere where they will not be exposed to a lot of dirt and debris.
Why You Should Clean Your Security Camera
A security or surveillance camera is a security device that can be used to monitor an area from a safe distance. The lens of the camera captures images and converts them into data that can be interpreted by a person or another machine.
Security cameras are a very effective way to monitor a location – but if there is a smudged or dirty lens their effectiveness is compromised. A few stains might not seem serious at first, but as these impurities start to pile up the image quality will suffer for it.
Not to mention that small objects – such as spider webs – that get stuck to the lens are responsible for the infamous ghosting effect that is often caused by an obstructed or altered view of your camera’s lens. To reduce the chance of having a ghosting effect, make sure there is no dirt or debris lodged in your security camera’s lens.
If you don’t take the steps to provide regular maintenance of your security cameras within a few months the image quality may become so bad that it is almost impossible to see clearly. The lenses can accumulate dirt and dust, as well as other particles over time. This will adversely affect the quality of your video footage. It can also reduce the effectiveness of night vision capabilities. In order to capture high-quality images, it’s important for the lens to remain clean at all times.
Not only can a dirty lens cause problems but the housing unit needs to be cleaned as well. This is especially true for outdoor security cameras.
Cleaning a Surveillance Security Camera Lens– Step By Step:
In order to thoroughly clean your security camera there are two things you need to do:
- Clean the camera lens regularly.
- Keep the housing clean and dust-free.
The actual cleaning process lasts 5-10 per camera and is pretty simple. Taking just a few minutes every month or so will keep your security cameras working well and possibly extend the life of your surveillance system.
The best way is to use a special camera brush or compressed air for this purpose. You can also use a clean microfiber cloth to clean the lens. Don’t use a common cloth as you risk scratching the lens.
Many people use cotton swabs for cleaning cameras but it is not the right way, The cotton swab can leave tiny fibers on the security camera lens which are very hard to remove. This may cause scratches and influence the image quality.
Other items that shouldn’t be used in cleaning your security camera include anti-bacterial or harsh (extra-strength) detergents ammonia, alcohol, or other solvents, paper towels, newspaper, or other rough materials.
Steps:
- Turn off the security camera.
- Use a can of compressed air and gently blow air at the lens to remove any loose dirt or debris.
- Hold the brush against the camera lens to remove big dirt particles, then clean from top to bottom and from left to right. If using a microfiber cloth wipe the lens with gentle pressure.
- Clean inside as well because there can be small dirt and dust particles that block the view.
- Once you are finished, turn the camera on to see if everything works fine.
Regular Cleaning Of The Housing Unit:
The camera housing can be cleaned with wet wipes or special products for example “caulk cleaner” which is used by painters. You should not use cleaning agents which contain alcohol because the housing of the camera is not resistant to it.
Gently wipe clean with a wet wipe or damp cloth and let it dry completely. The housing should be free of any water droplets. If this is not the case, you can use a special air duster to remove them.
Once you are finished, check if there are no water stains on the camera lens.
Conclusion
Security camera lenses and the housing unit can get dirty over time. The dirt, oil, and dust particles that accumulate on the lens will blur out images from the camera. If left untreated, this could lead to a false sense of security or even an accident in which a perpetrator is not identified. In order to avoid these consequences, it’s important for you to clean your security cameras regularly.
Picture quality should be maintained every month or so with these cleaning methods. If you follow these steps on a regular basis, your security cameras will last a long time.
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I hope you found this article, How To Clean Security Cameras – Get Rid of Dirt And Debris useful and informative.
Do you have a favorite way to clean your security camera? Please comment below.
